In order to be a company that pursues superior quality at Kawashima Packing Machinery Ltd., this time’s guest from top-class people in various fields, is the fashion director Yoshimasa Hoshiba.
who involved in the first publication and editing of popular men’s magazines such as LEON and OCEANS, he currently serves as editor-in-chief of FORZA STYLE and operates MINIMAL WARDROBE, an on-line select shop that produces various companies’ brands and items that he select.Hearing from Mr. Hoshiba, who knows top-class products and humans, about the high-quality definition and the common philosophy runs in high-quality companies

The suit for sales staff at Kawashima Packing Machine Ltd. was tailored by the Takashimaya Style Order Salon, which is supervised by Mr. Hoshiba.The work clothes are also all original, and they are very confident.Mr. Isosaka’s idea is “”I want our staff to wear good things and work with excitement.

Obtain hints on real, high quality, and aesthetic

Mr. Isosaka :Thank you for coming today.We invited Mr. Hoshiba to see our factories, machinery, and employees.Everyone looked forward to it.

Mr. Hoshiba :Thank you for allowing me to tour.It’s a very futuristic factory, isn’t it?
I was impressed when I knew that the products that I usually do not care about were packaged with such sophisticated machines.
The world’s three largest producers of woolen fabrics are said to be Biella in Italy, Bishu in Aichi Japan , and Huddersfield in northern England. Among these, Reda, a manufacturer in Biella, is making high-tech suits at its newest plants.I was able to sense an atmosphere similar to that from Kawashima Plant.

Mr. Isosaka :Thank you.We have more than 100 years of history as a manufacturer of packaging machines.Now I am taking over as CEO, and I am in the midst of taking on the challenge for the next 100 years.
In order to continue to be the company tp be chosen, I believe that we do not only produce products with new added value, but also increase the brand value of the company itself.

Mr. Hoshiba :I am also helping to create brands for a variety of companies.Brands can be made larger or smaller. However to be first-class, it need a clear vision.Aiming for higher levels, we must set even higher goals and keep challenging.

Mr. Isosaka :You are right.We have visions not only technological innovations in packaging machinery, but also to evolve into a manufacturer that handles packaging and packaging in general. Therefore, we take on challenges every day.It is uniform for us to aim for “” genuine”” during management decisions and policies we make.In doing so, the foundation for becoming a true manufacturing company is our commitment to aesthetic consciousness and high-quality.I believe that pursuing these two priorities lead us to future.

Mr. Hoshiba :It’s wonderful, isn’t it?I sympathize.Each company, called a brand, has its own distinct values and philosophy.

Mr. Isosaka :That’s right, isn’t it?Nevertheless, what is genuine, high-quality, and aesthetic…….I don’t think there is a single answer, but I want to have the axis and definition of ourselves firmly.In order to gain a hint from this, I wanted to learn from first-class people in various fields and absorb their essence, so I held a dialogue with Mr. Hoshiba this time.
Actually, I’ve been a big fan of Mr. Hoshiba for a long time, and I’ve seen almost everything about YouTube and Instagram.I have learned a lot not only about fashion, but also view of life and importance inner attraction as a person. Today, I am excited to be able to hear stories directly from you.

“”Beyond Expectations”” says the spirit of global standards.

Mr. Isosaka :You have experienced the world’s leading fashion brands in every field. Is there anything common points to those manufacturers?

Mr. Hoshiba :Whether it’s Hermes or John Robb, the philosophy differs from one manufacturer to another, and it’s hard to describe it in a single word. I think the spirit of Kawashima’s corporate philosophy, “”Beyond Expectations”” is common to all brands.
The impressive manufacturers thoroughly cares in details, and it makes to touch our heart.

Mr. Isosaka :Do you think so?Previously, when I was tailoring a suit at a store called first-class, I was surprised that a person who served me was saying, “”Let’s fix it five millimeters.”” They even looked at such details.This person is amazing.Even if there is only one such person, it will become a fan of stores and brands.We would like to provide such feeling to our customers everyday.

Mr. Hoshiba :That’s what it means to be recognized as a brand and to be a fan of it, isn’t it?Such hospitality, or whether there are people who do something voluntarily for customers and their companies, may be an indicator of a company that can have a sufficient brand.Although it is not easy task for us to spread this philosophy and foster employee to love for the company.After all, the root is a person, isn’t it?How many people can embody our corporate philosophy? How can we educate such people? That’s the proposition of company.

Mr. Isosaka :You are right.I also provide information both internally and externally in the form of branding, but that is just a method, and what is at the root is the concept of “”people-important.This is origin of management.My biggest goal is to share happiness with employees.

Mr. Hoshiba :働いている人たちが楽しく過ごせる、気持ちよく働けている場が作れるかどうか。It’s a time when managers are asked whether they have love for employees and customers. And whether possible to create a place where working people can enjoy themselves and work comfortably.The Dream of Solomeo: My Life and the Idea of Humanistic Capitalism”” of Brunello Cucinelli (Note 1) is indeed so. The most important concept is those who work together.I speak to the extreme: It is a love.

Mr. Isosaka:When we think about the happiness of our employees, of course money and other material things are important, but we want to create a company and workplace where they can feel the joy of working and the sense of fulfillment in their lives.For example, we are aiming to be a company in which children would like to work at the Kawashima Packing Machinery, by looking at his working father satisfied and fulfilled. And a company to be attractive from the local community.

High Quality means “”To Touch the Heart””

Mr. Isosaka :As I mentioned at the beginning, we are advocating a company that pursues “” High-quality.””One of my interpretations is that high quality to be able to feel a “”commitment to empathy”” from the responses of the products and employees. When asked “”What is high quality?””, how does Mr. Hoshiba answer?

Mr. Hoshiba :I can’t say anything about high quality, but I think this is the only thing that can be assured is “”impressing people.For example, it’s okay to make people happy, or to make them enjoy.Also, companies and people who can help people are cool, aren’t they?

Mr. Isosaka:Really it is.I often tell our employees, “”If we have cool companies, cool employees, and everyone can live in a cool way, there’s nothing like this great.From Mr. Hoshiba words at the moment, we were able to obtain a clearer guiding principle for action, rather than namely “”aiming for inspiration”” to embody coolness.

Hoshiba :The things that we provide are different, whether it’s in the fashion industry, which is my main battlefield, or in the manufacturing industry, such as Kawashima Packing Machine’s field, but I think it’s common to aim to to touch the people’s heart.I remember the emotions I got from the other party, and I’m grateful to give them back.First of all, I want to be able to make the first calls from myself when I can do this kind of impressive exchange.

Mr. Isosaka:In my writings, there were “”happiness”” . “” happiness”” are “”happiness in given””, “”happiness in making”” , and “”happiness in giving,”” . In particular “”happiness in giving”” was the most important.
That’s exactly what Mr. Hoshiba says, and I feel like I got confirmation.

Photographs are taken at a new entrance in a near-future atmosphere.

[Continued on the latter part]
In the part 2/2, we discuss grand dreams and challenges of Kawajima that go beyond the boundaries of one packaging machine manufacturer.What can be seen on a head by a story that might be reckless…?

Note 1 Brunello Cucinelli
Italy’s leading luxury fashion brand.
The founder, Brunello Cucinelli, was born in 1953 as a farmer in Castel Rigone, Perugia.In 1978, he founded a small company to stain Cashmere, and from the beginning, he established the ideal of working to protect “”human dignity in the aspect of economic ethics.Since 1982, the village of Solomeo has become a place to realize his dreams and a workshop that generates numerous successes as a humanist and entrepreneur.Three years later, he bought the ruined castle of the village, and placed his company there.
In 2000, the company purchased and repaired a plant near Solomeo Village to expand production facilities in line with the company’s growth.Build “”Court of arts and sciences.”” for restoration of Solomeo Village with passion and to meet and dedicate culture and beauty.Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange in 2012.In the same year, ‘ Craftsman’s Craftsmanship School ‘ was established in the village of Solomeo.
It has received numerous decorations and authoritative awards from both in and outside Italy due to its “”humanistic capitalism.He received the Order of the Knight of Labor in the Republic of Italy, the Honorary Degree of Philosophy and Ethics in Human Relations at the University of Perugia, the Keel Economic Award at the World Economic Institute, and the Order of the Knight of the Great Cross in the Republic of Italy.
Japanese translation is available ‘Humanitarian Management’ (Cross Media Publishing).

Yoshimasa HOSHIBA
Born in Tokyo in 1973.He was the editor-in-chief of 『“”FORZA STYLE”” 』(Kodansha), a fashion director.
After editing magazines such as “”MA-1,”” “”Mono Magazine,”” and “”Esquire Japanese Edition,”” he has been involved in popular men’s magazines such as “”LEON”” and “”OCEANS”” since its first publication, and has created a “”older and fashionable man”” boom.
In 2010, he became independent and established Style Clinic Co., Ltd.Besides serving as editor-in-chief of Sette Mari, a gender magazine that loves marine travel, he is also active in a wide range of areas, including TV, magazines, radios, and talk events, as well as brand production.He also engages in 「MINIMALWARDROBE」and「SIMPLE-LIFE」, on-line select shops that collect only what he likes.
Instagram@yoshimasa_hoshiba is also popular.

Picture:Takahiro Yamada
Text:Cross Media Marketing